Magazine and crimping machine for tubular electrical connectors

ABSTRACT

A magazine containing a commercial quantity of tubular communications electrical connectors, for example, 600 connectors, the magazine having a plurality of side-by-side passageways each containing a stack of connectors spring biased toward a discharge end of the passageway. The magazine functions with a crimping machine, and the two have cooperating mounting, guiding and indexing means so that the magazine may be mounted on and moved endwise in indexing manner with respect to the machine in order to bring a side-by-side pair of connector stacks in the magazine to a crimping station in the machine. A movable shuttle plate in the machine ejects a pair of connectors laterally from the pair of stacks at the crimping station, and locates them more or less rigidly between two anvils, one stationary and the other movable. Conductors are inserted manually into each connector, after which the movable anvil is actuated to perform a crimping operation on the pair of connectors between the anvils, thereby securing the inserted conductors in place. The movable anvil and shuttle plate operate in timed sequence in the operating cycle of the machine, and between crimping operations the crimped connectors are ejected and a new pair of connectors are positioned in the space between the anvils in readiness for the next conductor-inserting and crimping operations.

[72] Inventors Peter K. lKoletsos Schaumburg; Robert 1H1; Dawson, Lalte Bluff, both of, Ill. [2]] Appl. No. 827,606 [22] Filed May 26, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee Reliable Electric Company Franklin Park, Ill.

[54] MAGAZINE AND CRIMPTNG MACHINE lFOlR TUBULAR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 72/424, 29/203, 29/211 [51] lint. Cl ..B21d 43/20, l-lOlr B23q 23/10 [50] Field of Search 72/424; 29/203 DT, 211 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,574,811 11/1951 Blumensaadt 140/55 3,350,765 11/1967 Karl 29/203 ABSTRACT: A magazine containing a commercial quantity of tubular communications electrical connectors, for example, 600 connectors, the magazine having a plurality of side-byside passageways each containing a stack of connectors spring biased toward a discharge end of the passageway. The magazine functions with a crimping machine, and the two have cooperating mounting, guiding and indexing means so that the magazine may be mounted on and moved endwise in indexing manner with respect to the machine in order to bring a side-by-side pair of connector stacks in the magazine to a crimping station in the machine. A movable shuttle plate in the machine ejects a pair of connectors laterally from the pair of stacks at the crimping station, and locates them more or less rigidly between two anvils, one stationary and the other movable. Conductors are inserted manually into each connector, after which the movable anvil is actuated to perform a crimping operation on the pair of connectors between the anvils, thereby securing the inserted conductors in place. The movable anvil and shuttle plate operate in timed sequence in the operating cycle of the machine, and between crimping operations the crimped connectors are ejected and a new pair of connectors are positioned in the space between the anvils in readiness for the next conductor-inserting and crimping operations.

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HU HIW q ATENTEU AUG] 7 I971 SHEET 3 0F 3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tubular electrical connectors used in the communications field, and more particularly to a magazine, preferably transparent, for handling a commercial quantity of such connectors and a cooperating crimping machine which receives a magazine, positions a pair of connectors, holds the connectors for the manual insertion of conductors, thereafter crimps the connectors to establish electrical and mechanical connection with the conductors and ejects the crimped connectors.

Tubular electrical connectors of the type used in the magazine and crimping machine of the present invention have been is use for many years. In most instances the connectors have been packaged, sold and handled in bulk or loose form, the connectors being applied and crimped individually to communications conductors.

More recently, some manufacturers of these electrical connectors have mounted them in pairs between strips of adhesive tape, usually plastic tape, the connectors lying transversely of the tape and extending at their ends somewhat beyond the tape margins. Tape containing spaced pairs of connectors is sold in roll form in cardboard boxes, and crimping machines have been devised for accommodating the connectors packaged in this manner. The rolls of tape containing the connectors are comparatively costly and bulky, and they present certain problems in using them in the field.

Among the problems referred to above, irregular spacing between pairs interferes with indexing action, the adhesive on the tape tends to build up on the crimping machine and thereby impair machine action, the box, being opaque, precludes knowledge of the quantity of connectors remaining in the package, and the tape stays on the connectors after crimping, thereby increasing the bulk of a spliced communications cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in a magazine, preferably transparent containing a commercial quantity of tubular electrical connectors of the type to which at least a pair of conductors are connected by means of a crimping operation in order to connect theconductors together both electrically and mechanically, and a cooperating crimping machine which receives the magazine, ejects the connectors from the magazine a pair at a time, holds the connector pair at a crimping station for the in sertion of conductors manually, crimps the connectors to establish electrical and mechanical connections and ejects the crimped connectors while positioning another pair of connectors from the magazine.

The magazine, which, for example, may contain 300 pairs of connectors, includes a housing having partitions providing a plurality of side-by-side passageways open at one end, each passageway containing a stack of tubular electrical connectors. A spring means in each passageway bears on the contained stack of connectors and urges same toward the open end of the passageway. The housing has mounting and guide means cooperating with guide means on the crimping machine to permit the housing to be mounted on and moved endwise with respect to the machine.

The magazine housing also has indexing means cooperating with indexing means on the machine to permit the housing to be advanced two passageways at a time in the machine. The two connectors of each pair are derived from adjacent passageways in the housing.

The crimping machine of the invention, as mentioned, has a guide means and indexing means cooperating with counterparts on the magazine whereby the magazine is mounted on and movable endwise with respect to the machine in step-bystep manner. At one step, two adjacent passageways and contained stacks of connectors are in effective relation with a crimping station, and at the next step, the next two adjacent passageways are positioned at the crimping station.

The machine at the crimping station includes a recess into which the lowermost connectors of a pair of adjacent stacks are spring pressed, a movable shuttle plate adapted to transfer the connectors in the recess laterally to a position for crimping and a pair of anvils, one stationary and the other movable. Means are provided for actuating the movable anvil and shuttle plate in timed sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a magazine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side or end elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the magazine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partly broken away, on line 3-3 of FIG. ll.

FIG. 4- is an elevational view of the top cover of the magazine.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the magazine cover shown in F IG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the crimping machine and a fragmentary portion of the magazine, the front cover plate of the machine being removed to show the interior components.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the machine and assembled magazine, the end plate of the machine being removed to show interior components and the magazine being partly broken away and in section.

FIG, 8 is a top plan view of the machine, the top cover plate and parts thereabove being removed to illustrate the interior components.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spring follower used in the magazine.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connector of the type the invention is designed to handle.

FIG. II is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 10 showing a pair of conductors inserted therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 6 and 7, a magazine 10 containing tubular electrical connectors 11! is shown in assembled relation with a cooperating crimping machine 15. For convenience, magazine I0 first will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, magazine lltl comprises a housing 20 of rectangular shape in both front and side elevation. The height and width of housing 20 (FIG. 1) is subject to variation depending on the number of connectors 11 to be accommodated, and the thickness of housing 20 is slightly greater than the length of connectors 1 ll, as shown in FIG. 2. The size and shape of the illustrated housing is such as to contain about 300 pairs of connectors.

Housing 20 preferably is made of molded transparent plastic material such as polystyrene, and, as shown, 1r. cludes a front half 21, a rear half 22, a bottom cover 23 and a top cover 24 FIGS. 1-3 show clearly the manner in which the aforesa d housing parts are assembled. Bottom cover 23 is slid off when magazine 10 is mounted on the crimping machine 115, as will be seen.

Still referring to FIGS. ll-El, and particularly FIG. 3, the front and rear housing halves 2t and 22 are provided with uniformly spaced transverse partitions 26 and 27. The similarly numbered partitions in each half are in alignment when the two halves are assembled. The width of partitions 26 is such that a small central clearance 2% exists along the adjacent free edges of partitions 26 when the halves are assembled.

Partitions 26 and 27 occur alternately along the width of each housing half, the partitions 26 being uniform in width through their length. Partitions 27, as shown, are relieved and thus have reduced width throughout the entire lengths thereof except for a small portion 29 at the bottom, as best shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the central partition 30 in each housing half has slightly greater width than the partitions 26 so that they have abutting relation when the halves are assembled (FIG. 3).

Partitions 26, 27 and 30, together with the end walls of the housing halves define a plurality of side-by-side passageways 35 of uniform width in housing 20, again as best shown in FIG. 3. The passageways 35 separated by the relieved or reduced width alternate partitions 27 have limited communication between each other. The purpose for this arrangement will be described presently.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, top cover 24 has a plurality of spaced bosses 37 on the inside surface thereof, the bosses 37 located on the longitudinal center line of cover 24, each boss being in alignment with a pair of relieved partitions 27 in the front and rear housing halves 21 and 22.

A spring means 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is located in each passageway 35 in position to bear upon a stack of connectors 11 contained within the passageway. As shown, spring means 40 includes a spring follower 41 which in turn engages the top connector in the stack.

In the illustrated magazine with the partitions described above and shown in FIGS. 1-3, a single spring means 40 serves each two side-by-side passageways 35 separated by a pair of relieved partitions 27. Thus, a spring means 40, shown as a circular helical spring, bears against top cover 24 around a boss 37 and extends within the housing between the spaced edges of aligned relieved partitions 27, as best shown in FIG. 2, the free end of spring means 40 carrying spring follower 41.

The use of a single spring means 40 for the spring means in a side-by-side pair of passageways 35 is economical, and feasible because the connectors are withdrawn from magazine 10 in pairs, meaning that the connector stack height in the adjacent passageways will be the same at all times. It will be understood, of course, that a separate spring means 40 may be used in each passageway 35, if desired, in which case the otherwise relieved partitions 27 may have the same width as partitions 26.

All parts of housing 20, except bottom cover 23, namely front half 21, rear half 22, and top cover 24, are suitably sealed together after spring means 40and associated spring followers 41 are assembled therein. Spring followers 41, incidentally, are secured to the free ends of spring means 40, and the springs and followers are held within housing 10, in the magazine 20 shown, by full width portions 29 of the relieved partitions adjacent the bottom of the housing. Bottom cover 23, constructed as best shown in FIG. 2, is slidable lengthwise of the housing so it may be removed when magazine 10 is mounted on machine 15.

Housing 10 is provided with guide means 45 along each bottom edge, the guide means permitting the housing to be mounted on and moved endwise with respect to a cooperating crimping machine which presently will be described. As shown, guide means 45 are shoulders on exterior flanges 46 which extend along the bottom edges of front and rear housing halves 21 and 22. Flanges 46 cooperate to secure in place bottom cover 23 o the housing. As will be seen, shoulder guide means 45 cooperate with guide means on crimping machine 15.

Housing 10 also is provided with indexing means which permits the housing to be advanced the width of two passageways at a time in cooperating crimping machine 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the indexing means on housing 10 comprises a row of spaced recesses 50 extending along the lower portion of the housing on one of the housing halves, for example, rear housing half 22. The spacing between adjacent recesses 50, of course, is equal to the width of two passageways 35. As best shown at 51 in FIGS. 1 and 2, rear housing half 22 has increased thickness in the region occupied by recesses 50. As will be seen, an indexing means, such as a spring-pressed detent, on crimping machine 15 is adapted to seat successively in the recesses 50 and thereby index magazine 10 so that a pair of side-by-side stacks of connectors 11 are positioned in effective relation with a crimping station on the machine.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, crimping machine 15 for use with connectors 11 contained in magazine 10 now will be described.

Crimping machine 15 includes a support generally designated 55 on which the remaining machine components are mounted. Support 55 has a generally planar top plate 56 (FIGS. 6 and 7) along which magazine 10 is adapted to travel as pennitted by the guide means and step-by-step indexing means, both previously mentioned.

Referring to FIG. 7, a rear block 60 of appreciable length is mounted on top plate 56 in effective relation with the position of a magazine 10. Block 60 is undercut as shown at 61 to provide a guide means shoulder for cooperating with shoulder 45 on rear half 22 of magazine housing 10. Thus, shoulder 61 constitutes a guide means on machine 15.

Block 60 also is provided with a longitudinal groove 62 (FIG. 7) in the surface thereof facing a mounted magazine 10, the groove being of such size and location as to receive the increased thickness portion 51 of rear housing half 22 which contains the indexing recesses 50. A reduced recess 63 extends into block 60 from the bottom of recess 62, the recess 63 containing a spring 64 which engages a detent 65 such as a ball bearing adapted to enter partially an indexing recess 50 on housing 20. Recess 63, of course, is located longitudinally in proper position to perform the desired indexing function, and suitable keeper means are provided for detent 65.

A second block 70 (FIGS. 6 and 7) of appreciable length is mounted on top plate 56in effective relation with the front of magazine 10. The lengths of block 60 and 70 may be substantially the same, namely, the relative length of block 70 shown in FIG. 6. The corner of block 70 adjacent the lower edge of magazine 10 is undercut as shown at 71 (FIG. 7) to provide a shoulder overlying shoulder 45 on front housing half 21. Thus, the shoulders provided by the undercuts 61 and 71 of blocks 60 and 70, respectively, constitute guide means on machine 15 for mounting and moving magazine 10 on the machine.

Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower central portion of second block 70 constitutes the stationary anvil at the crimping station of machine 15. Block 70 has an inclined transverse recess 75 in the surface thereof facing top plate 56, and plate 56 is provided with an opening 76 in alignment with recess 75.

A cooperating movable anvil 80 also is provided at the crimping station. Movable anvil 80 normally is spaced from the stationary anvil, the region between the two anvils constituting a throat region 81 (FIG. 7). The facing surfaces of the two anvils are suitably contoured to perform the desired crimping operation on connectors 11.

A resilient means 83 (FIG. 7) such as a leaf spring is mounted on the stationary anvil for the purpose of positioning and holding a pair of connectors 11 more or less rigidly in throat region 81 so the connectors will be stable during the operation of inserting conductors therein. The leaf spring is omitted in FIG. 6 for clarity.

Movable anvil 80 has pivotal relation at 85 (FIG. Q ith the free end of a link 86 which constitutes one element of a tcggle mechanism generally designated 87. A second link 88 of the toggle mechanism is pivoted at one end to an intermediate part 88a oflink 86 and at the other end to support 55 at 89.

Link 86 of toggle mechanism 87 has irregular gooseneck shape, and the other end thereof is pivoted at 90 to the piston rod 91 of a pneumatic cylinder 92 which is pivoted to support 55 at 93. As will be seen in FIG. 6, when piston rod 91 moves outwardly, toggle mechanism 87 functions to actuate movable anvil 80 in direction toward the stationary anvil, and conversely, when rod 91 is retracted, movable anvil 81 moves in direction away from the stationary anvil. Connectors 11, of course, are crimped between the anvils during the outward travel of piston rod 91.

Movable anvil 80 is mounted rigidly at one end of an elongated plate 95, best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The other end of plate 95 is pivoted at 96 to support 55. Plate 95 moves through a small angle during machine operation, as will be seen, and serves to establish the travel path, actually a slight arc, of movable anvil 80. Another purpose of elongated plate 95, as will be seen, is to actuate a control valve at the conclusion of a crimping operation.

Previously mentioned toggle link 86 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as pivoted at 85 to the free end of plate 95 below movable anvil 80. Since this free plate end and movable anvil 80 are secured together rigidly, as by screws or welding, link 86 effectively has pivotal relation with respect to anvil 80.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a movable shuttle plate 100 on support 55 functions to transfer a pair of connectors 11 from below each of an adjacent pair of housing passageways laterally to a position between the two anvils. Suitable means are provided to guide shuttle plate 100 in its back and forth movement. Shuttle plate 100 is shown in retracted position in full line in FIGS. 7 and 8, and in advanced position in broken line 100' in FIG. 8.

Shuttle plate 100 is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 105 which is pivoted at 106 to support 55, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. Piston rod 107 of cylinder 105 is pivoted at 108 to a lever plate 109 which is pivoted at 110 to support 55. The end of piston rod 107 engaging lever plate 109 is bifurcated to provide a lost motion connection which will be referred to later.

As best shown in FIG. 8, lever plate 109 also is pivoted at 111 to shuttle plate 100. At pivot 111 lever plate 109 has an elongated slot 112 to accommodate the transition between rotatable movement of the lever plate and linear movement of the shuttle plate.

A spring 115 extends between support 55 and lever plate 109 to bias plate 109 in clockwise direction and thereby help retract piston rod 107 at the proper time in the operating cycle. An internal spring in cylinder 105 also helps to retract rod 107.

Cylinder 92 for actuating movable anvil 80 and cylinder 105 for actuating shuttle plate operate in timed sequence through the action of more or less conventional valves, including four-way valve 120, a micro air switch 121 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and a foot or hand valve (not shown). Valve 120 is mounted rigidly in support 55, whereas micro air switch 121 is mounted rigidly on elongated plate 95 which carries movable anvil 80 and pivots through a small arc during machine operation.

Micro air switch 121 has a plunger-type actuator 122, which, at the conclusion of a crimping operation, engages an adjustable pin 123 projecting through top plate 56. The head of pin 123 extends into a recess 124 in second block 70. Actuation of air switch 121 is effective to reverse the connections in four-way valve 120.

The operation of magazine 10 and cooperating crimping machine now will be described.

A magazine 10 loaded with connectors 11 is placed on top plate 56 of machine 15 with the magazine bottom cover 23 resting on the plate. Magazine 10 is slid manually between blocks 60 and 70, during which time bottom cover 23 is slid away so that the bottom connector 11 of each connector stack in the magazine is spring pressed against plate 56. In sliding magazine 10 between blocks 60 and 70, the undercut shoul ders 61 and 71 of the blocks overlie bottom flanges 45 of the magazine, thereby guiding the magazine and securing it in place in the machine.

Magazine 10 is positioned longitudinally so that the lefthand two side-by-side passageways are in alignment with the crimping station. Cooperating indexing means on the magazine and machine insure that the magazine is properly positioned longitudinally.

Machine 15 has a recess 125 (FIG. 7) below magazine 10 at the crimping station, and the bottom two connectors in the two side'by-side passageways at the station are received within this recess under the influence of spring means 40.

The machine operator momentarily actuates a conventional foot or hand switch (not shown) which operates valve 120 to charge cylinder 92. Piston rod 91 thereof ejects, thereby actuating toggle mechanism 87, causing movable anvil 80 to travel in the direction of the stationary anvil. Assuming the presence of a pair of connectors 11 in throat 81 between the anvils, a crimping operation is performed.

At the conclusion of the crimping operation, actuator 122 of micro air switch 121 engages pin 123, due to the pivotal movement of elongated plate 95, and switch 123 functions to reverse the connections in four-way valve 120. Meanwhile, of course, the foot or hand switch has been released by the operator.

When the connections within valve 120 are reversed, cylinder 92 retracts piston rod 91, thereby causing movable anvil to travel away from the stationary anvil. Simultane ously, cylinder 105 is energized to eject its piston rod 107. As previously mentioned, the free end of piston rod 107 is bifurcated, an arrangement providing a lost motion connection between rod 107 and lever plate 109. Thus, plate 109 is not pivoted by rod 107 to impart movement to shuttle plate until after movable anvil 80 has been separated to some extent from the stationary anvil. Such separation, of course, is necessary to avoid possible jamming between a second pair of connectors l1 and a previously crimped pair between the anvils.

Continued rotation of lever plate 109 by piston rod 107 causes shuttle plate 100 to move to the broken line position 100' shown in FIG. 8. When in this position, shuttle plate 100 has moved a new pair of connectors 11 into the region 81 between the two anvils. As previously mentioned, the connectors 11 are positioned more or less securely in region 81 by means of resilient means 83 (FIG. 7).

At this time the machine operator manually inserts one or more conductors in each one of the connectors 11 held by resilient means 83 in the region 81 between the anvils. Thereafter, the cycle initiating switch, either foot or manual, is actuated, as previously described, to effect the crimping operation on the pair of connectors 11 between the anvils and thereafter feed a following pair of connectors into region 81. The following pair as they move between the anvils are effective to eject the pair already crimped.

When all the connectors in the first two side by-side passageways from magazine 10 have been used, the magazine is indexed to the next step by manually moving magazine 10 to the left (as shown in FIG. 6) until detent 65 of machine 15 seats itselfin the next recess 50 of magazine 10.

When connectors 11 of all the passageways in magazine 10 have been used, the spent magazine is removed from machine 15 and replaced with a loaded magazine 10.

It will be noted that the magazine and machine of the invention may be operated either in the upright position shown in FIG. 7, or, if available space so requires, in a position wherein the rear side of the machine is resting on the work surface. In the latter position, the throat or region 83 between the anvils faces upwardly. In either case, connectors 11, when in position for crimping, are located on the top of the machine. This, of course, facilitates the insertion of conductors into the connectors.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes in detail ma be made without departing from the spirit or losing the o vantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A magazine and crimping machine for tubular electrical connectors, said magazine comprising:

a housing having partitions providing a plurality of side-byside passageways open at one end, each passageway containing a stack of tubular electrical connectors;

spring means in each passageway bearing on the contained stack of tubular electrical connectors and urging same toward the open end of the passageway;

guide means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be mounted on and moved endwise with respect to the crimping machine; and

indexing means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be advanced two passageways at a time in the crimping machine; said crimping machine comprising:

a support;

a guide means on said support cooperating with said guide means on said magazine;

an indexing means on said support cooperating with said indexing means on said magazine;

a stationary anvil on said support adjacent a mounted magazine;

a movable anvil on said support normally spaced from said stationary anvil and movable toward same to perform a crimping operation on electrical connectors withdrawn from said housing;

a movable shuttle plate on said support adapted to transfer a tubular electrical connector from each ofan adjacent pair of housing passageways to a position between said anvils; and 7 means actuating said movable anvil and said shuttle plate in timed sequence.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein alternate housing partitions are relieved in the central regions thereof, and said spring means in the side-by-side passageways separated by a relieved partition is a single helical spring compressed between the closed end of the passageways and the stacks of tubular electrical connectors in the passageways.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide means on said housing is an external flange on each housing face adjacent the open ends of said passageways, and said guide means on said support is a shoulder overlying each external flange.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said indexing means on said housing is a row of spaced recesses along one face of said housing, the spacing between recesses equal to the distance between the centers of alternate partitions in said housing, and said indexing means on said support is a spring pressed detent adapted to seat successively in said recesses.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said indexing means on said housing is a row of spaced recesses along one face of said housing, the spacing between recesses equal to the distance between the centers of alternate partitions in said housing, and said indexing means on said support is a spring pressed detent adapted to seat successively in said recesses.

6, The combination of claim 1 with the addition of resilient means on the surface of said stationary anvil facing said movable anvil, said resilient means effective to stabilize said connectors between said anvils when conductors are inserted into the connectors prior to the crimping operation.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said resilient means is a formed leaf spring.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means actuating said movable anvil includes a toggle mechanism extending between said movable anvil and said support, and a pneumatic cylinder and piston connected to said toggle mechanism.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means actuating said shuttle plate includes a pivoted lever member connected to said shuttle plate with a lost motion connection, and a pneumatic cylinder and piston connected to said pivoted lever member with a lost motion connection 10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means actuating said shuttle plate includes a pivoted lever member connected to said shuttle plate with a lost motion connection, and a pneumatic cylinder and piston connected to said pivoted lever member with a lost motion connection.

11. A magazine for tubular electrical connectors comprising:

a housing having partitions providing a plurality of side-byside passageways open at one end, each passageway containing a stack of tubular electrical connectors;

spring means in each passageway bearing on the contained stack of tubular electrical connectors and urging same toward the open end of the passageway; guide means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be mounted on and moved endwise with respect to a crimping machine;

indexing means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be advanced two passageways at a time in a crimping machine; and

a bottom cover for said housing, said cover removable when a filled magazine is mounted on a crimping machine. 

1. A magazine and crimping machine for tubular electrical connectors, said magazine comprising: a housing having partitions providing a plurality of side-byside passageways open at one end, each passageway containing a stack of tubular electrical connectors; spring means in each passageway bearing on the contained stack of tubular electrical connectors and urging same toward the open end of the passageway; guide means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be mounted on and moved endwise with respect to the crimping machine; and indexing means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be advanced two passageways at a time in the crimping machine; said crimping machine comprising: a support; a guide means on said support cooperating with said guide means on said magazine; an indexing means on said support cooperating with said indexing means on said magazine; a stationary anvil on said support adjacent a mounted magazine; a movable anvil on said support normally spaced from said stationary anvil and movable toward same to perform a crimping operation on electrical connectors withdrawn from said housing; a movable shuttle plate on said support adapted to transfer a tubular electrical connector from each of an adjacent pair of housing passageways to a position between said anvils; and means actuating said movable anvil and said shuttle plate in timed sequence.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein alternate housing partitions are relieved in the central regions thereof, and said spring means in the side-by-side passageways separated by a relieved partition is a single helical spring compressed between the closed end of the passageways and the stacks of tubular electrical connectors in the passageways.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide means on said housing is an external flange on each housing face adjacent the open ends of said passageways, and said guide means on said support is a shoulder overlying each external flange.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said indexing means on said housing is a row of spaced recesses along one face of said housing, the spacing between recesses equal to the distance between the centers of alternate partitions in said housing, and said indexing means on said support is a spring pressed detent adapted to seat successively in said recesses.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said indexing means on said housing is a row of spaced recesses along one face of said housing, the spacing between recesses equal to the distance between the centers of alternate partitions in said housing, and said indexing means on said support is a spring pressed detent adapted to seat successively in said recesses.
 6. The combination of claim 1 with the addition of resilient means on the surface of said stationary anvil facing said movable anvil, said resilient means effective to stabilize said connectors between said anvils when conductors are inserted into the connectors prior to the crimping operation.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said resilient means is a formed leaf spring.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means actuating said movable anvil includes a toggle mechanism extending between said movable anvil and said support, and a pneumatic cylinder and piston connected to said toggle mechanism.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means actuating said shuttle plate includes a pivoted lever member connected to said shuttle plate with a lost motion connection, and a pneumatic cylinder and piston connected to said pivoted lever member with a lost motion connection
 10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said means actuating said shuttle plate includes a pivoted lever member connected to said shuttle plate with a lost motion connection, and a pneumatic cylinder and piston connected to said pivoted lever member with a lost motion connection.
 11. A magazine for tubular electrical connectors comprising: a housing having partitions providing a plurality of side-by-side passageways open at one end, each passageway containing a stack of tubular electrical connectors; spring means in each passageway bearing on the contained stack of tubular electrical connectors and urging same toward the open end of the passageway; guide means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be mounted on and moved endwise with respect to a crimping machine; indexing means on said housing cooperating to permit said housing to be advanced two passageways at a time in a crimping machine; and a bottom cover for said housing, said cover removable when a filled magazine is mounted on a crimping machine. 